Okla. bill seeks DNA tests for some convicts

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Convicted criminals could request forensic DNA testing of evidence in their case under a bill unanimously approved by the Oklahoma House.

The House voted 98-0 on Monday for the Postconviction DNA Act by Cushing Republican Rep. Lee Denney. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Denney says Oklahoma is the only state that has no post-conviction DNA testing process in place and that her measure "makes it even more difficult for mistakes to fall through the cracks."

Under the bill, only certain cases would be eligible for post-conviction testing, including those with a "reasonable probability" that the person would not have been convicted if favorable results had been obtained through DNA testing.